OUT OF AFRICA? Alarmed by reports that Defense Secretary Mark Esper is contemplating a wholesale realignment of U.S. forces that would dramatically reduce the U.S. footprint in Africa, several senators are pressing the Pentagon to put any such plans on hold.

The New York Times reported just before Christmas that Esper wants to reduce U.S. missions battling distant terrorist groups in order to refocus on confronting so-called “Great Powers” Russia and China.